2011 Hall Vote Is Today

Team owner Junior Johnson is already in the Hall of Fame. By the end of the day, he could be joined by his driver, Darrell Waltrip. (Photo by RacingOne/Getty Images)

Charolotte, N.C. – Election Day has arrived and it has nothing to do with things so trivial as taxes and global warming. Today, the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011 will be chosen.

Among the 25 candiates are past Cup champions like Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough; short-track aces like Jerry Cook and Richie Evans; team owners like Leonard Wood; and people like Raymond Parks, who just plain played a big part in the growth of the sport.

Voting is scheduled for early afternoon.

It will be held in the Charlotte Convention Center, which is attached to the Hall in Uptown Charlotte.

Doing the voting will be a panel of NASCAR dignitaries, former drivers, former team owners, promoters and racing-media types.

Among the 10 or so journalists on the voting will be two from RacinToday.com. They are senior writer Mike Harris and managing editor Jim Pedley.

In the hours after the election, they will reveal how they voted and explain their votes.

Senior writer Deb Williams will be at the Hall reporting on the election itself.